Barnes questions Dalton Corp.

Friday

Oct 4, 2013 at 9:00 AMOct 4, 2013 at 9:00 AM

By Christy Hart-Harrischarris@thedailyreporter.com

COLDWATER — Budget cuts are the main issue facing a majority of entities in towns, villages and cities throughout Michigan.The Branch County Road Commission is no different.According to a recent board meeting, it was reported that the BCRC will save $20,000 after switching from mowing to spraying roadsides with herbicides in four townships — Union City, Sherwood, Matteson and Batavia.Over time, the herbicides should prove effective in limiting the brush along the roads, allowing for better visibility, and will potentially provide a substantial cost savings for the county.From Sept. 6-18, Daltons Inc. of Warsaw, Ind. sprayed the northwest quadrant of Branch County, which is located in Sherwood Township. The herbicides used were DuPont Escort XP and Dow AgroSciences LLC's Garlon 4 herbicide.During the BCRC meeting on Thursday, Dalton Inc. president Lex Dalton and Sherwood Township resident Kathryn Barnes engaged in an intense conversation about the proper use and safety of the herbicide.Barnes addressed the board with her concerns regarding the herbicides."I planted things to beautify the roadside; it's all dying. People are asking what's killing everything. Nobody told them that you were spraying," said Barnes. "I wouldn't have known either except I had to bury my beautiful dog."Barnes explained how she walked her dog one night along the roadside as she often does. She witnessed her dog eating grass at one point but thought nothing of it. She also stated she noticed the side of the road was wet, but the wet spots seemed to just stop near her property."I thought that was strange but thought maybe it rained," she said.She continued, "Not only is this harmful to humans but to animals and fish. The triclopyr can cause cancer, kidney damage, skin irritations and genetic mutations."She described how she took her dog to the vet after the animal began losing her hair, biting at her legs and developed a growth on her side.All those symptoms, Barnes said, were caused by the herbicide."I spoke to the man who was spraying the other side of the road the next day. I could actually smell it when I walked outside — it smelled oily. I also talked to a bicyclist in Sherwood who said they were spraying while she was riding her bike and the spray went right in her face," said Barnes.BCRC manager-engineer Trent Arver said, "We are required to spray below the threshold based on MSD and we comply with that."According to the Material Safety Data Sheet, the DuPont herbicide contains 60 parts metsulfuron methyl and 40 parts other ingredients, whereas the Garlon 4 herbicide contains triclopyr-2-butoxyethyl, kerosene and other components, according to the herbicide's MSDS.Both chemicals have been tested and are approved for use by the Michigan Department of Environemntal Quality.Dalton said, "To the best of my knowledge we have never harmed any fish, wildlife, domestic or ag animals. I have worked in this business for 42 years. The chemicals have all been tested — they wouldn't let use this stuff if it wasn't safe. We comply with MSD and they are safe."Barnes wasn't convinced."There are a lot of things that are quote-unquote safe, but they still sell them," she said. "Only people are given the option if they want to use it. We weren't given that option — we weren't told about this."Barnes again addressed the board, pleading with them to stop using the chemicals."I would like the road commission to go back to mowing and not spray, especially without telling people. If you saw what this did to my dog you would never use that chemical again. The stuff is horrible."